Jan 29, 2025 - Business

Spirit Airlines rejects new takeover offer from Frontier

Dan Primack

Spirit Airlines plane taking off — Photo: Mario Tama/Getty Images

Frontier Group has revived its efforts to merge with rival Spirit Airlines, which rejected the offer and said it's prepared to exit bankruptcy later this quarter.

Why it matters: This highlights the fragile economics of budget air travel, and also a broader belief that the Trump administration will be easier on antitrust than was its predecessor.

Catch up quick: Frontier and Spirit agreed to merge in 2022, but JetBlue then entered the fray and signed a $3.8 billion deal to buy Spirit.

The Justice Department successfully sued to block JetBlue from buying Spirit, which then filed for bankruptcy protection.

The bottom line: Frontier still wants Spirit, despite having already been left at the altar, which means it may not take Spirit's latest no for an answer.

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Spirit Airlines rejects new takeover offer from Frontier

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